Subject: FAQ [Monthly Posting]
Date: 1 Apr 1996 15:57:41 GMT
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL1.4]


...      REC.SPORT.TRIATHLON
...Frequently Asked Questions (faq)

Last Revised: 03/01/96 by Larry Chapman (chapman@fc.hp.com)




1) What are typical events in a summer triathlon?
2) What are the standard distances?
3) What equipment should I plan to take?
4) How Do I Train?
5) Why do so many triathletes get upset about wetsuit usage in races?
6) Why is the "Olympic/Triathlon distance" triathlon 1.5k/40k/10k?
7) Why is the swim leg of a triathlon relatively shorter in time than the
   biking or running legs?
8) What's a "Brick".
9) What should I read?
10) Can we sell stuff through rec.sport.triathlon?
11) What is the ITU?
12) Various addresses

**************************************************************************

1) What are typical events in a summer triathlon?

  Swim
  Bike
  Run

  A summer duathlon is typically a combination of running and biking.

  A biathlon is an Olympic winter event consisting of skiing and shooting.

**************************************************************************

2) What are the standard distances?


                    SWIM          |     BIKE      |     RUN
                 km      mi       | km       mi   |   km    mi
 ---------------------------------+---------------+---------------
 Jr. Youth      0.1     0.06      | 5      3.10   |   1    0.62
 (7-10 yrs)                       |               |
 ---------------------------------+---------------+---------------
 Sr. Youth      0.2     0.12      | 12     7.45   |   3    1.86
 (11-14yrs)                       |               |
 ---------------------------------+---------------+---------------
 Short          0.3~1   0.24~0.62 |  8~25  5~15.5 | 1.5~5  1~3
 ---------------------------------+---------------+---------------
 International  1 ~ 2   0.62~1.24 | 25~50  15.5~31| 5-10   3.1-6.2
 ---------------------------------+---------------+---------------
 Olympic/Triathlon 1.5     0.93   | 40     24.86  | 10     6.21
 ---------------------------------+---------------+---------------
 Long           2 ~ 4   1.24~2.48 | 50~100 31~62  | 10~30  6.2~19
 ---------------------------------+---------------+---------------
 Ultra          3.2+    2+        | 100+   62+    | 30+    19+
 ---------------------------------+---------------+---------------
 Ironman        3.8     2.4       | 180.2  112    | 42.1   26.2
 -----------------------------------------------------------------

**************************************************************************

3) What equipment should I plan to take?

   [very important items marked with an *]

SWIM
* Swimsuit
* Goggles
  Goggle anti-fog drops
  Towels (sit on in transition area, dry off, wipe feet)
  Bucket (with water to wash sand off feet)
  Wetsuit
  Swim cap
  Sunscreen
  Petroleum jelly (crotch, nipples, underarms)

BIKE
* Helmet
* Bike shoes
  Socks
  Bike shorts
  Bike jersey/singlet
  Gloves (probably not in a short race)
  Cycling glasses
  Water bottles
  Spare tires/tubes
  CO2 cartridges
  Tool kit
  Floor pump
  Frame pump
  Bike lube

RUN
* Running shoes
  Socks
  Shorts
  Singlet
  Hat/Visor/headband
  Sunglasses

MISC.
  Watch
* Race number(s)
  Race information
  Writing instrument
  Identification/passport
  Money/credit card
  First aid kit
  Fluid replacement drink
  Energy food
  Misc. warmer cloths (tights, jacket, helmet cover, etc.)
  Extra safety pins
  "Civilian" cloths
  Soap
  HR Monitor
  



**************************************************************************
4) How Do I Train?


       TRIATHLON TRAINING

       TODD JENSEN
       LARRY CHAPMAN


       GETTING STARTED

       The following sections describe how to train for triathlons for
       people with little or no triathlon experience, but the information
       is general enough that it can be used for almost any endurance
       sport.  First things first.  You need to gauge your current fitness
       level.  Get a physical done by your physician.  Ask yourself
       questions such as, "Do I work out regularly (3 or more times a
       week)?", "How far can I swim/bike/run comfortably?", and "Do I have
       any medical conditions and/or injuries (e.g.  asthma, strained
       ligaments) I should be aware of?"  It is important to understand
       your current fitness level so that you can properly train and build
       onto your fitness without becoming injured.

       You should determine your training heart rate ranges.  First, you
       need to know your maximum heart rate (HRmax).  You can estimate it
       using the following formulas:

                      ------------------------------
                       Women:   226 - AGE   = HRmax
                      ------------------------------
                       Men:     220 - AGE   = HRmax
                      ------------------------------

       Be aware that the above formulas only give estimates - your actual
       maximum heart rate may be higher or lower.  There are tests to
       determine this, but the formulas give a good starting point.

       Now you should find your resting heart rate (HRrest).  This can be
       done by taking the average of your pulse for a few mornings after
       you wake up but while still in bed.  From these two numbers you can
       determine your training heart rate ranges using the Karvonen method.
       The formula below is used to find your heart rate at a specific
       exertion level (from a range of 0 to 100%).

        ---------------------------------------------------------
          (HRmax - HRrest) x (%effort) + (HRrest)  =  HR%effort
        ---------------------------------------------------------

          Example:

          HRmax = 220 - 26 = 194  (assuming a 26-year-old male)

          HRrest = 45  (averaged over 7 consecutive mornings)

          HR_80% = (194 - 45) x 0.80 + 45 = 163

       Using the table below, you will know what your heart rate should be
       for certain types of workouts.  In the beginning of your training,
       you'll mostly be training in the lower ranges.  As the races get
       closer, you'll begin to explore the higher ranges of your heart
       rate.

              ----------------------------------------------
               Level    %effort        Type of Training
              ==============================================
                 I     60% - 70%    Overdistance, Endurance
              ----------------------------------------------
                II     71% - 74%    Endurance, Speedwork
              ----------------------------------------------
                III    75% - 80%    Endurance
              ----------------------------------------------
                IV     81% - 90%    Intervals
              ----------------------------------------------
                 V     91% - 100%   Race
              ----------------------------------------------


       A PLAN

       Would you try to build a new home without a floorplan?  You don't
       want to train without a plan, either.  With a plan, you know exactly
       what you need to do to achieve your goals.  The plan also prevents
       you from overtraining, which is discussed later, and allows you to
       fit training in around other activities and work.  You may want to
       base your training on the amount of time you have to work out.
       Instead of trying to run 5 miles over your lunch hour, you may want
       to plan on running 40 minutes and not be late for your 1:00 meeting.
       Know how hard or easy you want to work out - use your heart rate to
       make yourself work harder or to keep yourself from working too hard.

       Your plan doesn't need to be detailed, but it should be flexible for
       those unplanned for instances.  Keep a training log with notes of
       what you did each day and how you felt.  You should also write it
       down so you can compare notes later when you create a plan for next
       season.  The following sections divide up the season into 5 parts:
       Base, Intensity, Peak, Race, and Recovery.  After reading these
       sections, you should have a better idea of how to plan your season.


       BASE BUILDING

       Before you start "real" training, you'll want to strengthen and
       prepare your body for the stresses it will need to handle.  This is
       done by doing easy training and slowly increasing the amount of time
       or distance spent swimming, biking, and running.  It is not a time
       to see how fast you can run 5 miles or to be hammering in the
       biggest gears on your bike - these types of activities will most
       likely lead to injuries.  This is because it takes longer to build
       up the strength of your ligaments, tendons, and muscles than the
       time it take to build up your aerobic capacity (i.e.  lungs and
       heart).  Base building will slowly but surely strengthen the muscles
       your need to do your chosen sport.  Most of this training should be
       done in heart rate zones I and II.  You should avoid training in
       zone III - in this zone you can build your endurance, but your body
       doesn't recover as well and can become depleted over a period of
       time if you continue to train at that level.  Zones IV and V should
       be avoided until you have built up enough strength to handle the
       higher intensities.

       You can prevent injury by following your plan.  Depending on your
       current level of fitness, Base building can last anywhere from 6
       weeks to 26 weeks.  Follow the 10% rule - never increase the
       distance more than 10% above the maximum distance you have done in
       the last few weeks.  For example, you rode your bike 100 miles last
       week, you wouldn't want to ride more than 110 miles this week.  Base
       building workouts should seem easy, but may leave you tired.  It is
       important to get enough rest and eat properly during this time.
       This may also be the time to put yourself on a regular schedule,
       fatigue can creep up unnoticed at any time.

       Don't worry about speed or times yet, that is what the next periods
       are for.  At the end of the Base period, you should be able to
       easily cover the distances you want to race.  For example, if I
       wanted to do an Olympic/Triathlon distance triathlon such as the
       Sun-Times in Chicago, I should be able to swim 1 mile, bike 25
       miles, and run 6 miles.  Even if you can cover the distances now,
       you would still want to have some sort of Base period to prevent
       injuries later.

       Plan on spending more time training in the sports you are weaker in.
       For example, if you already run 10K's, you'll probably want to
       devote more of your time to swimming and biking.


       INTENSITY

       Now that you have a Base of fitness, you're ready to add more
       Intensity to your workouts.  Again, most of the training will be
       done with your heart rate in zones I and II, but now you should also
       be doing some speedwork and intervals where your heart rate goes
       into zone IV for short periods of time.  The Intensity period should
       be no longer than your Base period.

       To improve performance, push your body just above what it can do
       comfortably, and then allow it to recover.  This translates into the
       hard/easy training method.  If you do a hard workout one day, you
       probably want to take it easy the next day or even take the day off
       as rest.  This will allow your body to recover and rebuild, and your
       muscles will become stronger as you adapt to the greater amounts of
       work.

       Intensity can be achieved in different ways.  You may want to try
       some fartlek work in the beginning - going hard for a few minutes
       when you feel like it.  Or timed intervals - go hard for X number of
       minutes with Y number of minutes rest.  Running or biking up hills
       is also a good way to achieve Intensity.

       Group workouts are a great way to force yourself to work hard.  Most
       people find they can train more regularly, at a faster pace, or at
       greater distances when they have other people to work out with.  Try
       to find a club or group to train with when you want to do some
       higher intensity workouts.  Most cities have a Masters swimming
       team, a running club, and a bike shop that knows about the local
       rides.  You might need to do some searching, but it is worth the
       effort.

       Keep in mind that group workouts usually end up being a higher
       intensity than workouts done individually due to the competitive
       genes that seem to surface when groups of athletes get together to
       train.  The 5x100 Easy set in the pool becomes 5x100 Sprints.  The
       group ride turns into a classic cycling road race with attacks and
       speed surges.  The group run turns into a charge on the course
       record.  If your want an easy workout or plan on training in heart
       rate zones I and II, you might be better off going out by yourself.

       BRICKS

       A "classic" workout that is very triathlon specific is the "brick".
       The origin of the word is mysterious at best but the idea is simple
       - follow a ride with a run.  These workouts tend to be tougher on
       the body than some others so be careful with frequency!  Some
       athletes like to do a 1-mile run after almost every bike ride.
       There are many varieties and the workout should be tuned to the race
       coming up.  If an Ironman is your goal then an 80-mile ride followed
       by a 10-mile run would be a tough brick.  If a shorter race is your
       goal then a 25-mile ride with a 4 mile run would be more
       appropriate.  Another version of the brick entails taking a
       wind-trainer to a running track and alternating intervals on each.
       The brick is a good way to get used to what many think is one of the
       toughest parts of the race  - the bike-to-run transition.


       PEAKING

       A few weeks before racing, you should reduce the amount of time and
       distance you are training at and concentrate on speed.  You can do
       this by doing shorter, more intense workouts.  Races used as
       practice are also useful.  Do some short cycling time trials or
       running races, especially if you're having trouble motivating
       yourself to train - they can be fun and a good workout at the same
       time.  You should be doing some training in heart rate zones I and
       II to keep your endurance, but a good portion of your training will
       be in heart rate zone IV.

       The idea of peaking is that you have the endurance base necessary to
       finish the race, now is the time to work on performance.


       RACING

       Depending on the distance of the race, you need to take a few easy
       days or more to allow your body to be fully recovered and refueled
       for the race.  Everyone is different - some people need weeks of
       rest, others can train right up to the day of the race and still
       perform well.  A good sign of how rested you are is your morning
       heart rate.  If it's higher than normal or your legs feel heavy and
       sluggish, you probably should train lightly or not at all in order
       to be prepared for the race.  A good rule of thumb for longer
       distance races such as marathons or Ironman triathlons is to reduce
       your training time with two weeks to go before the event to about
       70%, and with one week to go reduce your training even further to
       about 30% of your normal time.

       If you're racing every weekend, you really don't need to worry about
       adding much Intensity to your workouts during the Racing season.
       Races can be your hard workout - train lightly to keep active and to
       keep your endurance between races.  If you're not racing much, you
       need to keep doing some hard workouts or race simulation to keep in
       race-shape.

       As far as what to do during an actual race, experience is the best
       factor.  For specific help, pose your questions to triathletes in
       your area.  Some helpful hints for a triathlon are listed below:

          * Plan and pack what you are going to wear and use during the
            race the night before.  Create a checklist to make sure you
            haven't forgotten anything.

          * Arrive early enough to the race site so you can scout out the
            transition area and course.  You may want to even do this the
            day before if it is a long race or you are unfamiliar with the
            area.

          * Leave more time than you think you will need for setting up in
            the transition area, warming up, and waiting in line for a
            port-a-john.

          * Swim starts can be scary, especially if you are not used to
            swimming in the open water.  Be prepared to get pushed, shoved,
            kicked, and swam over if you want to keep up with the pack.  If
            you feel nervous about the close body contact, start off to the
            side or back.

          * Have landmarks picked out so you can navigate your way over the
            course.  Those big orange buoys that are easy to see from shore
            can be difficult to see in choppy water.  Try sighting tall
            buildings or towers so you can swim as straight as line as
            possible.

          * About 100 yards from shore, start thinking about how you are
            going to transition to the bike.  Think about what order you
            will put your clothes and shoes on and which way to exit the
            transition to start the bike leg.  Remember to strap your
            helmet on before you get on the bike!

          * For the first mile or so on the bike, spin an easier gear.
            This is to get your legs used to going in circles instead of up
            and down.  Get aerodynamic as soon as possible.

          * Concentrate on catching the person in front of you.  After you
            pass them, start going after the next person ahead of you.
            Avoid riding at along side someone at their speed - either pass
            or back off, as people have a tendency to group up on the bike
            which can lead to packs forming.

          * Make sure to drink plenty of fluids during the bike leg.  If
            the swim was long, you are probably already somewhat dehydrated
            at the beginning of the bike.  The bike is the best place to
            build up your fluid reservoirs for the run ahead.

          * Coming into the bike transition, practice the same mental
            technique as you did when you were finishing the swim.  Think
            about how you will transition to start the run - where to enter
            the transition with your bike, how to change shoes and clothes,
            where to exit to start the run.

          * Your legs will probably feel heavy and stiff when you start
            running.  Try shortening up and quickening your stride to turn
            your running muscles on.

          * Again, remember to keep drinking fluids.  Most people cramp up
            or slow down not because they run out of energy, but because
            they become dehydrated.

          * The run turns into a survival session for a lot of people, but
            try to keep moving and think positive thoughts.

          * Finish strong.

       After the race evaluate your performance.  Did you meet your goal,
       whether it was to run a certain time, place overall, or just to
       finish?  If you didn't, try not to be negative about it.  Rather,
       ask yourself what can you do to improve next time and then work at
       it.  Remember to keep a healthy perspective about triathlon and how
       it fits into your overall life.


       RECOVERY

       This period follows the racing season and gives your body the time
       it needs to fully recover from the abuse it took from racing.  You
       shouldn't become a couch potato, or you have to start from ground
       zero next year.  Do easy training.  Take time to try other sports.
       Lift weights to rebuild strength in muscles that you do not use
       swimming, biking, or running (e.g.  your abdominals).  Don't worry
       about losing some fitness, but try to keep off any unnecessary
       pounds.

       This is also the time to evaluate your plan.  Did you meet your
       goals?  Were they too high or too low?  Start planning for next
       year.  If you were injured, look at your training log to find things
       you should avoid.  (Did you do four days of running in a row when
       you had only been used to doing two?)

       After recovering, you are ready to start the whole cycle over again,
       beginning with creating a new plan for the next season.


       SOME FINAL WORDS

       "If God invented marathons to keep people from doing anything more
       stupid, triathlon must have taken Him completely by surprise."  P.
       Z.  Pearce, M.D.

       Just remember, triathlons are only as hard as you make them.  When
       many people think of triathlons, they think of the Hawaii Ironman,
       but most triathlons are much shorter and can be completed by almost
       anyone with the proper training.  Finishing can be a reward in
       itself.  Just tri it, but be wary of Dr.  Pearce's warning more is
       not always better.  If you train properly, you'll stay healthy, be
       competitive, and probably end up finding training is just as fun as
       racing.  Good luck!


       REFERENCES

        [1]  Rob Sleamaker, SERIOUS Training for Serious Athletes.

        [2]  Triathlete Magazine, June 1991


       (Updated 08/07/95)


**************************************************************************

5) Why do so many triathletes get upset about wetsuit usage in races?

The basic  issue with  wetsuits is that in  addition  to making  open water
swims safer by providing  the wearer with added warmth and  flotation  they
also provide a speed  advantage.  The speed advantage  comes from the added
flotation  that  puts a  swimmer's  body in a  higher  and  more  "correct"
position.  This is the position  that a good  swimmer  swims with anyway by
using proper technique.

Therefore,  wetsuits  speed-up a poor swimmer with poor body position  much
more than they speed-up a swimmer that already uses good body position.


**************************************************************************

6) Why is the "Olympic/Triathlon distance" triathlon 1.5k/40k/10k?

As the sport evolved the largest emerging series used these distances.  The
origin is not exactly clear but a 1500m swim is the standard "long" swim
race, the 40k timetrial is a cycling standard, and 10k is the most popular
road racing venue.  The international triathlon governing bodies needed a
distance to promote for the Olympics and picked the "most popular" format.

**************************************************************************

7)  Why is the swim leg of a triathlon relatively shorter in time than the
    biking or running legs?

This question has been debated endlessly over the years.  Triathletes that
excel in swimming want a longer swim and triathletes that are poorer
swimmers tend to be happy with the status quo.  The basic reason for short
swim legs is that swimming, especially in open water, is the biggest
limiter to people participating in triathlon.  Also, in many parts of the
world, trying to map out a long swim course is very difficult (think about
a 4+ kilometer swim in your average lake).

**************************************************************************


8) What's a "brick"?

   A "brick" workout, in the triathlon community, is a bike ride followed
   immediately by a run.  It seems nobody really remembers how it got its
   name but a couple guesses are:

.* Bike-Run-ICK!
.* That's how your legs feel for the first part of the run.
.* Named by the man who invented it - Dr. Matthew Brick.
.* Named by Mark Sisson and Scott Zagarino one day in 1988 after they
.  completed a Bike-Run workout -- "Just another brick in
.  the wall".
.
.
**************************************************************************
9) What should I read?

   Newsgroups:

     triathlon: rec.sport.triathlon
     swimming : rec.sport.swimming
     biking   : rec.bicycles.racing
     running  : rec.running\

  Web Pages
     http://w3.one.net/~triweb

  Magazines:

    220
    300 Carlsbad Village Drive
    Suite 108A-220
    Carlsbad, CA.  92008
    (619) 722-6348
    US220mag@aol.com

    Triathlete Magazine
    Editorial & Advertising Dept.
    voice (310) 394-1321
    fax   (310) 458-6248

    Inside Triathlon
    1830 North 55th Street
    Boulder Colorado 80301
    (303) 440-0601


    Triathlon Sports,
    P.O. Box 2590,
    Taren Point, NSW 2229
    Australia
    Tel +61 2 524 1455
    10 issues/yr, $4.95AUS per issue.  Overseas subscriptions available.

  
    Triathlete(UK)
    The Apprentice Shop
    Merton Abbey Mills
    Watermill Way
    Wimbledon
    London SW19 2RD
    UK

    Triathlete(Germany)
    Winning International Verlag
    22 Rue de la Concorde
    B-1050 Brussel
    Belgium

    Triathlete(France)
    Winning International
    n 449072 R
    16 place du Havre
    75009 Paris
    France


  Books:

    Ageless Athlete
      by Richard Winett

    Biathlon Training and Racing
      by Ken Souza

    The Complete Triathlon Training Manual
      by Bob Johnson and Patricia Braggs

    Dave Scott's Triathlon Training
      by Dave Scott

    The Fit Swimmer
      by Marianne Brems

    The High Performance Triathlete
      by Katherine Vaz and Barcley Kruss

    Iron Will/Ultimate Challenge
      by Mike Plant

    Mark Allen's Total Triathlete
      by Mark Allen

    The Mental Athlete
      by Kay Porter and Judy Foster

    The Road To Kona Never Ends
      by Dr. Patrick McCary

    Science of Triathlon Training and Competition
      by Glen Town

    Scott Tinley's Winning Triathlon
      by Scott Tinley

    Serious Training for Serious Athletes
      by Rob Sleamaker

    Science of Cycling
      by Ed Burke

    Stretching
      by Bob Anderson

    Swim, Bike, Run
      by Gelnn Town and Todd Kearney
      Human Kinetics Publishers

    Triathlon - A complete guide for training and racing.
      by Dr. John Hellemans
      Reed publishing

    Training and Racing Biathlon
      by Mark Sisson

    Triathloning For Ordinary Mortals
      by Steven Jonas

    Triathlon - A Triple Fitness Sport
      by Sally Edwards

    Triathlon - Going The Distance
      by Mike Plant

    Triathlon into the nineties
      by Rod Cedaro
      Murray Child and Co.

    Triathlon Training and Racing Book
      by Sally Edwards

    The Two Wheeled Athlete
      by Ed Burke

***********************************************************************
10) Can we sell stuff through rec.sport.triathlon?


                    OFFICIAL POLICY FOR COMMERCIAL
                 POSTS ON REC.SPORT.TRIATHLON (R.S.T)

This posting is addressed to all commercial entities and individuals who
wish to post the sale of items on the rec.sport.triathlon newsgroup.  Its
purpose is to specify the policy for such posts to this newsgroup.  The
content of this posting has been endorsed by readers of this newsgroup and,
as such, represents our respect for this newsgroup and our desire to maintain
its integrity.  While there are currently no enforced rules governing the use 
of the Internet for commercial purposes, just remember that any company or
individual who abuses their priviledges can expect to receive much abuse in
return.

1. Policy for Commerical Entities

It is undeniable that equipment plays a significant role in triathlons.  Most
readers are interested in hearing about new products and their availability.
However, the consensus of this group is that we much prefer the "soft sell"
approach to the "everything must go!" approach.  With that in mind here are
guidelines for posting:

a) Commercial entities which contribute useful information to this group, in
   addition to merely selling their wares, have traditionally earned a great
   deal of respect on this newsgroup.  We welcome insights on available
   products, previews of products coming to market, and we always gladly
   receive any and all triathlon discussion.

b) We permit the posting of new product announcements, sales promotions, and
   of course special r.s.t. sales.  However, we request that such announcements
   are limited to a description of what's available (no laundry lists, please),
   how long the sale is on, and how to obtain more information.  Here are two
   examples we consider appropriate:

      Hey, I've got 500 carbon fiber aero water bottles I need to unload real
      cheap.  Please send email to ironman@kona.com for more info and pricing
      information.

      Tri Products Unlimited has a number of products available for sale.
      They include our famous NeverFlat tires, Stealth aero bars, and
      Terminator titanium frames.  Please send email to products@tpu.com
      for a complete list of items available and pricing information.

   Ok, so maybe we should leave the marketing to you, but you get the idea.

c) Any commercial posts should use "AD" for the subject header.

d) We discourage the posting of price lists.  This can lead to excessive
   postings as competitors engage in an advertising fest.  

e) We assume that commercial entities will use restraint in the frequency of
   such posts, limiting them to no more than one per week per company.  

f) Companies are permitted to include a brief description of what they sale,
   along with contact information in the FAQ.  Check the latest version of the
   FAQ on who to contact and your information will be inlcuded in future FAQ's.

g) As an alternative to posting to r.s.t, vendors are encouraged to set up a
   World Wide Web page.  Your home pages will also be added to the triathlon
   Web page.  This is actually a much better medium, because you can have 
   online ordering, photos, etc.  The advantage to r.s.t readers is that *you*
   (rather than some anonymous vendor) control use of your company's resources.

2. Policy for Individuals

It is recognized that individuals often have used equipment for which 
they are trying to find a good home.  Such postings are permitted on
rec.sport.triathlon.  

a) Such posts should use "FOR SALE" in the subject header.

b) Please be sure to include complete information regarding what you have for 
   sale, including:  make and model, size, all parts and components included, 
   price, shipping arrangements, and contact information.

***********************************************************************
11) What is the ITU?

    The ITU, or International Triathlon Union, is the International
Federation for the Sport of Triathlon and Duathlon.  An International
Federation (or "IF") is a "World governing body" for a particular sport wrt
the Olympics and similar international competitions (Pan Am Games,
Commonwealth Games, Goodwill Games, and University Games).  The ITU does
not govern other, more "local", parts of the sport.  That is left to the
National Federations (of which USA Triathlon is one).  The over-arching
Olympic Organization for all sports is the International Olympic Committee
(IOC).

ITU operates under a Constitution which was first written by the founding
National Federations (NFs) in Avignon, France in 1989.  ITU consists of the
Congress, the Executive Board, the Council and the Committees.  Important
issues such as Constitutional changes, basic triathlon policy, technical
rules and the election of officers are decided at the annual meeting of
Congress, which is usually held during the week preceding the Triathlon
World Championships.  ITU Congress is conducted under Robert's Rules of
Order, with the President serving as Chairman.

The ITU is able to perform its Constitutional mandate of "promoting the
sport of triathlon worldwide" by marketing its properties, specifically,
the ITU World Triathlon and Duathlon Championships and Triathlon World Cup
Series.

***********************************************************************


12) Various Adresses:

    World Wide Web Pages
      http://iac.net/~miller/triathlon-home.html
      http://multisport.com/mol
      http://www.emporiumone.com/Triathlete
      http://members.aol.com/dscottinc/dsi_home.htm
      http://www.triathletemag.com/ironman/index.html
      http://www.webcom.com/~sp/brug/rst.html
      http://www.triathletemag.com/tri/
      http://www.webcom.com/~tri-itu/
      HTTP://www.TRInfo.com/TriFed/
      http://w3.one.net/~triweb/triweb.html


    World Triathlon Corporation (Ironman)
    PO Box 1608 US Hwy 19 N
    Tarpon Springs, FL  34688-1608  


    USA Triathlon
    3595 E. Fountain Blvd.
    Suite F1
    Colorado Springs, CO.
..      80910
    Tel 1-800-TRI-1USA
        1-719-597-9090
    Fax 1-719-597-2121
    e-mail  trifedusa@aol.com   (Steve Locke, Executive Director)



    ETU President
    Tom O'Donnel
    101, O'Connel Street
    Limerick
    Irland
    Tel int +35 361 41 88 11
    Fax int +35 361 41 83 12


    Australian Triathlon Association
    Triathlon NSW,
    The Secretary,
    P.O. Box 1112,
    Manly, NSW 2095
    Australia
    Tel +61 2 976 2444
